AMERICA'S PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 16, 14 October 1907, Page 8

AMERICA'S PROBLEM.

SPEECH BY MR. TAPT.

Mr. Taft, the United States Secretary for War and Republican candidate-d-signate lor the Presidency, speaking the Buckeye Republican Club at Cohrmbus, Ohio,-on August 19, said the ono subject upon which', tho nublio conscience had -been aroused was the management of ■': the . arterinl . system of the' country, ■ which the /aterStutb Railways formed. He declared that tho Inter-State [Commerce Bill .of ..1887 had proved a failure, because the Inter-State Commerce Commission .created by .it was not authorised to fix reasonable rates. Ho advocated an amendment of the Bate Bill-passed in June, 190G, the amendment to give tho Commission , power to prcsoribo rules for tho uniform classification of-freight by all rail : ways, and a farther amendment to prevent tue over-capitalisation of railways. Ho also favoured amendments forbidding the stock in computing lines, and against tho appointment of common directors of competing linos. ■••'■■■.• , - .

Arguing that the proposed amendments are not Socialistic, but the.opposite, Mr. Taft said that if somo oftectivo remedy was not devised, tho present atmsos wonld result m a movement towards Govcrnmeut ownerslup, winch would become a formidable" ono, that could not bo stayed. Referring to tho_ trusts, Mr. Taft said lie incliiiod to the opinion that, tho timb wae hand for en amendment of tho Anti-Trust Law, dofining in more dotail tho evils against which it was aimed, making clearer the distinction between lawful agreements ronsonablj- restraining trado and those which were pernicious in effect, and partiou« larly denouncing the various devices for monopoiising trade. Ho throw back on tho railways their oharge that Mr. Eoosßvolt was responsible for , the wave of anti-corporation legislation in numerous States of the Union. Mr. Taft doclnrod his adherence to tho protoctive tariff principle, but favoured its thorough revision by a Republican Congress. Ho strongly onduroad Prosidont Rooeovolt's polioics ip- alLoßßential_paxiioulius. .